Despite previous reports, the latest weather forecast is for potentially good solar eclipse viewing conditions tomorrow morning.
According to the latest updates from the Icelandic Met Office, though tomorrow’s cloudy outlook remains, it is expected to be thin and broken cloud everywhere but the east and northeast of Iceland. The roughly two-hour-long event from around 08.30 to 10.30 tomorrow will be the most total solar eclipse seen in Iceland for 61 years.
The eclipse will be at its most total at 09.37 in Reykjavík, though the time will vary by location elsewhere by a minute or two.
Despite all eclipse viewing glasses being sold out, opticians are warning people not to look directly at the sun with unprotected eyes, as it can cause damaged vision and even blindness. Mbl.is reports that permanent damage can be done in just a few seconds, and damage can still occur when the sun is partially covered by cloud.
The sun will be completely covered by the moon in a band across part of the northern hemisphere, starting 70 km off Iceland’s south-eastern coast. The Faroe Islands and Svalbard will enjoy the total eclipse. In East Iceland the sun will be 99.4 percent obscured, and in Reykjavík it will be 97.5 percent hidden—meaning darkness for all.
It will be the last solar eclipse in Europe until August 12 2016—an eclipse which will engulf Reykjavík in total darkness.
The totality of tomorrow’s eclipse will last for 2 minutes and 47 seconds at most and the area of 100% coverage is 480 km wide and mainly out at sea.
